Choose an article from a newspaper that is the length of the poem you want to write. Cut out the article with a pair of scissors, then carefully cut out each of the words. Put all the words in a paper bag. Shake gently. Take out each word, one after the other and copy in the same order they left the poem.—Prompt #2 by Ruth Ozeki in Choices (BorderlinePress, 2015),
Ruth Ozeki adapted her prompt from “To Make a Dadaist Poem,” a chapter in Tristan Tzara’s 1920 book Dada Manifesto On Feeble Love and Bitter Love. I’m adapting her prompt as well, using a magazine, Rolling Stone because there are no newspapers in the house where I am staying. I’m extracting all the phrases that include a “D,” plus words and lines from the September 10th, 2015 issue. To make a semplance of poetic sense, I rearranged a few words/phrases as the tumbled from the bag. I used exactly the same words except that I changed “managed” to “manages.”
A Dream You Won’t Want to Wake Up From
An end unto itself
a sustained organ chord
that builds toward a pop crescendo
that never quite comes.
Extravagant melodies bloom slowly
beckoning spooky, hazy, lovely days of candy.
a brilliant, surreal and crisp cymbal pattern.
The listener inside manages the rare trick of evoking bliss,
like it can contain entire worlds.
Wow! That is a sexy poem! Whoo-ee. Somebody at Rolling Stone should be blushing.
Love this so much! Really great poem. Definitely going to try this method myself. #AtoZchallenge
Double wow! So great…love the last two lines.
By golly, the prompt works. Quite beautifully.
That was really awesome. Thanks for making such beautiful magic to share!
I’m pleased that you liked it, Ms. Love & Stars!